Monday, January 23, 2017

Know Way

Aunt
Lucille (we called her Ceecee) did not love her flock of chickens but she hated
possums, coons and chicken hawks. She lived to get a bead on one of these
predators with her old 22 and send them to possum purgatory, coon crematory or
chicken hawk hell. She was proud of her hate and bragged about it, but she
never expressed any affection for the chickens. Isn’t that just like some
people: hating the opposition more than loving their own ideas?

I
read an ancient oriental parable about two young monks who had vowed poverty as
well as celibacy—in fact, they promised never to touch a woman. On their first day
outside the monastery, they were met with monsoon rains. As they sloshed
through a nearby village, they saw a beautifully dressed young damsel
distressed because the road she had to cross was so muddy. Without a word, one
of the brothers picked her up and carried her across, putting her down on the
other side.

They
walked on in silence for about a mile. Finally, the other brother said, “Hey,
you violated your vow. We promised never to touch a woman and you picked that
girl up and held her close all the way across the road.” The brother replied, “Yes,
that is true. But I put her down on the other side of the road about a mile
back. You, however, still carry her.” Isn’t that just like some people: making
judgments about others based on appearances while their own hearts are impure?

Aesop
told a story about a sleek and well-fed mastiff dog, living as a pet behind his
master’s house. An old patchy and skinny wolf approached his yard and said, “How
do you remain so fat and healthy? I have had to work very hard this year for
just the minimum of food. Where do you get your meals?” The dog said, “Oh,
those humans in that house yonder feed me regularly, really good food. In fact,
I have a few ribs left from my dinner that I would be willing to share if you
care to indulge.” Creeping into the lighted yard, the wolf said, “Absolutely,
but what is that shiny thing about your neck that trails off to that peg in the
ground?” The dog said, “Oh, that is a chain. The humans keep me chained up back
here. See I am a watchdog and…” The wolf replied over his shoulder as he crept
back into the woods, “Goodbye.” Isn’t that dog just like some people: those
attached to their own comfortable place so much that they are captives of it or,
isn’t that wolf just like those who risk all for personal freedom?

William
Hazlitt said we cannot hate anyone that we truly know. And, in Bible language
anyway, “know” is related to “love” as in “Adam knew his wife and they brought
forth young.” We cannot really know people through social media alone. Real
knowledge of others requires relationships—the kind that lead to love. To know,
know, know you is to love, love, love you and…….”